Saturday, August 8, 2015

I just don't know what to do about this. Your turning three marks the end of an era for me...the closing of Babyland.

You have been the quintessential last baby though: cute and cuddly, a great sleeper and a keeping-up-with-the-siblings spirit.

In the last few months, you've potty trained yourself in the most easy way I could imagine (one where my involvement was not necessary) and now sleep in your big-boy bed upstairs (which is entirely too far). You started swimming with your head underwater and pedaling your own bike.

But you also are quick to ask me to "cuddle up" with you and let everyone know that only mommy will suffice in most every situation. I might huff, but you know I love it.

You talk from the moment your eyes open until they close, you know no strangers and have no fear. You love superheroes and practicing your ninja skills in the air, on your friends/family, and little children we've never met before...which has led to a ban on all cartoons without a PBS or Disney Jr logo in the corner.

You are a big ball of BOY, William Evan, and I am so thankful that we get to call you ours!

love forever,
mommy

Q and A:

Will, what is your favorite color? lellow

What is your favorite toy? race car

What is your favorite fruit? strawberries

What is your favorite tv show? Jake and the Neverland Pirates

What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? peanut butter and honey sandwiches

What is your least favorite food? salad, carrots and broccoli

What is your favorite thing to wear? my lion shirt

What is your favorite game to play? Buzz Lightyear

What is your favorite snack? Cheetos

What is your favorite animal? cheetah

What is your favorite book? Spot

Who is your best friend? Bennett and Oliver and Charley

What is your favorite cereal? Waffles

What is your favorite thing to do outside? go bike riding really fast

What is your favorite drink? water

What is your favorite holiday? Christmas

What do you like to take with you to bed? my beanie boo

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? waffles and sausage

What do you want for dinner on your birthday? cake! (and birthday cake ice cream)

Thursday, June 4, 2015

The anticipation of this her day had been mounting for months. Countdowns, special requests, invitations to casual acquaintances to attend her party...this girl was pumped.

One of those special requests was to have her birthday party (with everyone she's ever met in attendance) at Creative Discovery Museum. Given that her other ideas were her friends' house and Chuck E Cheese, I booked immediately.

In the spirit of inclusion she wanted a party with "all of the princesses"

and so we did.

And a couple of the princesses made multiple appearances.

Elsa Katie Beth and Elsa Emersyn

Cora and Katie Beth sharing secrets

It was a fun, easy party with lots of her little friends and candles on a cake that couldn't wait to be blown out until the end of the song!

Back home to open gifts with both sets of grandparents in the audience - very special!

On Monday, we celebrated again with her special snack at school...pudding, by request.

After school and gymnastics that afternoon, KB, Nana and I took a girls trip to the nail salon for pedicures in honor of the two birthday girls!

Tuesday, her actual birthday, started out with the birthday cereal of request, seated in the highly-anticpated birthday chair.

and followed up by some K-shaped pancakes.

Next up was a milestone event the birthday girl was not so pumped about, but that had become clearly necessary at our optometrist appointment the week prior...glasses for our girl with 5.5 prescription lenses.

Before:

During:

After:

She might not be totally sold yet, but her already-big green eyes beaming out of those thick pink and purple frames just make me smile. And she has been quick to say, "I can see that house!" "Look at that tree!" so I know we're headed in the right direction.

Back home, and into our Elsa gown, Katie Beth got a couple of special visitors - Kelsey our beloved babysitter and her Daisy...who Katie Beth believes is hers...and a baby.

After swim lessons and soccer practice (oy-vey), we all enjoyed the by-request birthday meal of hot dogs, mac n cheese, salad and pears.

And then a late-night present-opening session commenced!

Meeting her American Girl doll, whom she named Rosie, for the first time!

She had glasses (that I ordered in a panic from ebay while we were still at the optometrist), but Katie Beth said Rosie didn't like her glasses and was happy that she took them off. Baby steps.

Dear Katie Beth,

I smile as I type this, thinking of your cute face and how five years can have passed since you first fought your way into the world. You've been a fighter ever since. Sometimes to your detriment and my absolute unraveling, and other more-recent times, a fighter to the finish line or to your friend's defense. We're starting to get little glimpses of the strengths of that strong will you carry.

Smart, brave, funny, beautiful. Nurturing, sensitive, lyrical, creative. You love to dance, but couldn't take the tights. Will sing all day long, except in front of a crowd. Pickiest eater, with the appetite of a grown man. A study in contradictions...as a girl, I guess it comes with the territory.

Thank you for the hugs, the kisses "on the lips", the noodle necklaces. I love you, sweet girl and Daddy's princess. Our family is much more fun and fancy with you in it!

What is your favorite holiday? Ballerina Day (a real one) Christmas and Halloween and Easter

What do you like to take with you to bed? Hearts and Coco

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? pancake and waffles and donuts and cereal and scrambled

What do you want for dinner on your birthday? hot dog and macaroni

What do you want to be when you grow up? a princess and a queen, and I'd like to put on braces and teach people how to put on their own braces

What do you like to do with your family? go to Disney World, the pool, the beach, the hotel

Oh, and then there was this.

We left for Disney World the next day, and surprised her with her own real princess makeover at the Bibbity Boppity Boutique that evening.

She chose her gown (Princess Anna's coronation dress) from a wall of beautiful, glittery choices and then her very own fairy godmothers in training took over - hair, makeup, nails, the works!

She was actually speechless during the process, but started to come to life at her photoshoot...and then owned. it. for the the rest of the trip.

Katie Beth,

At four, you are the definition of "emotion" - you show everything you feel, from the exasperated huffs and stomping feet to the sincere and unexpected compliments and hugs. You sing your heart out to your favorite songs and make up ones about Jesus and Zoe. You spell your whole name. You adore Ben and mother Will. You love babies and dogs, swimming and dress up. You can create complicated plot lines among handfuls of crayons or chicken nuggets and entertain yourself endlessly. You would rather play than clean and somehow messes just seem to generate themselves around you...I can relate. You are so fun and so hard and so loving and so so loved. I'm proud of you, sister...happy birthday!

We live in Chattanooga, TN, where Tyler practices orthodontics and Stacey runs all over town with Benjamin, the Kindergartener, Katherine Elizabeth, the Preschooler, and William, the Toddler.
We hope you enjoy this virtual scrapbook of our family!